[Representative landscape indices of biological soil crusts distribution in the hilly Loess Plateau of China]

Landscape indices can quantitatively describe the distribution characteristics of biological soil crusts (biocrusts). However, there are too many landscape indices, with high redundancy. We investigated 58 plots of biocrusts with different distribution patterns in the Hegou watershed of Wuqi County, Shaanxi Province, located in the hilly Loess Plateau. First, we calculated 15 common landscape indices, and selected representative landscape indices that could describe the biocrust landscape pattern and had specific ecological significance, based on correlation analysis, factor analysis, and sensitivity analysis. The reliability and rationality of the representative landscape indices were verified with data of the different biocrusts coverage in the Yingwoshanjian watershed of Yangjing Town, Dingbian County, Shaanxi Province. The results showed that 10 of the 15 landscape indices had significant correlations. Total edge (TE) and edge density (ED) were not significantly correlated with number of patches (NP), patch density (PD), clumpiness (CLUMPY), and interspersion juxtaposition index (IJI), respectively. The percentage of landscape (PLAND), ED, patch cohesion index (COHESION), and splitting index (SPLIT) described the spatial distribution characteristics of biocrust from coverage, length, connectivity, and fragmentation, respectively. The cumulative contribution of the three common factors represented in describing the spatial distribution of biocrusts was 91.6%. The study identified the representative landscape indices that could quantify the complexity of biocrusts distribution and thus would provide a theoretical basis for studying the pattern evolution of biocrusts and their relationship with ecological processes.景观指数可量化表征生物结皮的分布特征,但景观指数存在数量众多、冗余度较高的问题。本研究以位于典型黄土丘陵区的陕西省吴起县合沟小流域不同分布格局的58个样方的生物结皮为对象,计算其15个常用景观格局指数,基于相关分析、因子分析和敏感性分析,筛选出可描述生物结皮景观格局、具有特定生态学意义的代表性景观指数,并以陕西省定边县杨井镇鹰窝山涧小流域退耕地不同盖度的生物结皮为例,检验所选景观格局指数的可靠性和合理性。结果表明: 15个景观指数中,10个指数之间具有显著相关关系,而边缘长度(TE)和边缘密度(ED)分别与斑块数量(NP)、斑块密度(PD)、丛生度(CLUMPY)和散布与并列指数(IJI)无显著相关性。斑块占景观比例(PLAND)、ED、斑块连结度(COHESION)和分离度(SPLIT),分别从盖度、长度、连通度和破碎度方面描述了生物结皮空间分布特征,其代表的3个公因子在刻画生物结皮空间分布格局时累计贡献率达91.6%。本研究确定了可量化生物结皮空间分布复杂性的代表性景观指数,为研究生物结皮格局变化及其与生态过程的关系提供了理论依据。.